Disappointed in CA speech therapy services

I just found out from my Regional Center coordinator that they will not do a speech evaluation until the child is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready for it at 18 months - NOT chronological. So this means if Olivia is not developmentally ready to speak at 18 months - which is three months away (by the looks of things right now in the last few months is not going to happen unless we get a STRONG growth spurt here) then she will not get speech until she is developmentally ready. This could be when she is chronologically 20 or 22 or 24 months or longer. How awful is that!!!

I am right there with you in my thoughts on CA services. I am not sure why Em has a Regional Center coordinator. They don't provide anything to coordinate. I need to start playing the lottery. I would love to start my own program or school.

I'm in VA and we just had an ST eval through the EI program here. Caleb has just turned 13 mos. We were then approved for ST 2X/mo so I'm pretty excited. I think I remember you posting that she has been screaming or grunting for attention which is an indication that she wants to communicate but does not know how.

Actually, Caleb has been whining/grunting at us for a while when he gets frustrated. When discussing it with our therapists, they all agree that he wants to communicate and just needs to be taught how. We have been teaching him some signs and he is finally signing "more" back to us!

Anyway, sorry to hijack but the point is if she seems frustrated or is making any verbal noises I would think she is ready developmentally. Don't be afraid to push and make a fuss if you need for her to learn to express herself. Sadly, they will not offer services unless you make a stink it seems. HTH

Lisa over at http://finniansjourney.blogspot.com/ recently underwent the runaround with CA and speech therapy. I suggest checking out her blog where she has posted about it a few times. She's really cool and I'm sure would be more than willing to offer suggestions.